Simple, isolated action that is totally completed in the past (happened once) Beginning or end of action Happened a specific number of times Happened at or during a specific time Main action or event MOVED THE STORY FORWARD
Entonces De momento Aquella semana Anteayer En febrero El lunes Una vez Anoche La semana pasada El 25 de julio De repente Por fin Una noche Durante
Repeated, habitual actions (“used to, was, would”) Descriptions in the past Ongoing actions (you don’t know when they started or stopped) Telling time in the past ◦ Eran las dos
Age in the past Mental or physical state of being in the past ◦ Verbs like: saber, conocer, querer, creer, estar, and tener are usually imperfect Background information DOESN’T MOVE THE STORY FORWARD
Generalmente Constantemente Siempre Frecuentemente Normalmente Todas las tardes Cada semana De costumbre A menudo A veces Con frecuencia Por lo general Regularmente De vez en cuando
Well, it was Tuesday, and I was walking through the park. As I was following a path through the trees, I suddenly fell to the ground. I tripped over a rock. I laughed to myself because I was afraid someone would have seen me fall.
If we want to say… was ___ing or used to do ◦ We use the IMPERFECT If we want to say… did once, aka talked (with the _____ed) ◦ We will use the PRETERITE
Something was happening, when an action ‘interrupted’ it. ◦ The ongoing action is imperfect, and the action that ‘interrupts’ is preterite. In a long narrative. ◦ The part that seems to be descriptive, background info is imperfect, while actions and specific events are preterite.
While I was walking in Florida, I saw a gator (el caimán). Mientras caminaba en Florida, vi a un caimán. (interruption of an ongoing action)
I left Florida, and went to Belize. It was sunny when I arrived! Salí de Florida, y fui a Belize. Hacía mucho sol cuando llegué. (action, weather, action)
A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses: SABER CONOCER QUERER NO QUERER PODER
Imperfect – “knew” ¿Sabías que el concierto empezaba tarde? Did you know that the concert began late? Preterite – “found out, learned” Sí, supe ayer que empezaba tarde. Yes, I found out that it began late.
Imperfect – “knew (somebody)” Pedro conocía muy bien a esa actriz. Pedro knew that actress very well. Preterite – “met (somebody) for the first time” Luis la conoció el año pasado. Luis met her last year.
Imperfect – “wanted to” Luis quería comprar las entradas hoy. Luis wanted to buy the tickets today. Preterite – “tried to, attempted to” Yo quise comprarlas, pero me enfermé. I tried to buy them but I got sick.
Imperfect – “didn’t want to” No querían ver esa obra de teatro. They didn’t want to see that play. Preterite – “refused to” No quisieron ver esa obra de teatro. They refused to see that play.
Imperfect – “was able to, could” Ella podía aprender la letra de la canción. She was able to learn the letter of the song. Preterite – “managed to, succeeded in” Ella pudo aprender la letra de esa canción. She succeeded in learning the letter of that song.